Home Office

Asylum: Deportation

Lord Roberts of Llandudno: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what was the cost of deporting failed asylum seekers to their country of origin in (1) 2000, (2) 2010, and (3) 2014.

Lord Bates: The Home Office does not store information on the amount spent annually on returning failed asylum seekers so this information cannot be provided except at disproportionate cost.

Immigration: Statistics

The Earl of Dundee: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of whether distinguishing between overseas students and other migrants in published statistics would help to promote the United Kingdom as a destination for international students.

Lord Bates: International students are included in net migration statistics that are produced by the independent Office for National Statistics (ONS). In line with the internationally agreed UN definition, these statistics define a migrant as someone changing their normal place of residence for more than a year. Students are therefore included in the same way as other migrants. Other countries, such as the United States, Canada, and Australia also include students in their net migration figures. Like other migrants, students who stay for longer than 12 months have an impact on communities, infrastructure and services while they are here, so it is right that they are included in the net migration count. The ONS estimates that in the year ending March 2015 there was a difference of 96,000 in the number of non-EU students coming to and leaving the UK. Therefore student emigration, or the lack of it, is a key driver of overall net migration.We have an excellent offer for international students, and as a result we remain the second most popular destination in the world for international higher education students. The latest figures show that visa applications sponsored by universities were now 17% higher than they were in 2010, and the corresponding figure for Russell Group universities was 33%.The Home Office publishes statistics on entry clearance visa grants broken down by category in table vi_04 (Entry clearance visas tables volume 4) within the ‘Immigration Statistics’ release, and in the Visas topic. Data for numbers of entry clearance visas granted for study (Tier 4 & pre-PBS equivalent) are separately identified. An example summary table from the Visas topic, identifying data for students, is provided below.Entry clearance visas granted by reason (excluding visitor and transit visas)YearTotal issued (1)WorkStudyStudent visitors (2)FamilyDependant joining or accompanyingOtherYE June 2010616,650154,615320,18341,85950,24015,40734,346YE June 2011616,413158,261304,56855,08249,26315,00134,238YE June 2012520,073147,377214,21968,99044,42412,78232,281YE June 2013501,608144,503204,41072,47333,71011,64934,863YE June 2014538,504159,231218,23978,07535,66411,36235,933YE June 2015538,663168,544216,76964,18135,24510,93042,994Change: latest year+159+9,313-1,470-13,894-419-432+7,061Percentage change+0%+6%-1%-18%-1%-4%+20%[h4] Table notes(1) Excluding visitor and transit visas(2) Student visitors are allowed to come to the UK for 6 months (or 11 months if they will be studying an English Language course) and cannot extend their stay. For consistency and comparability over time student visitor visas have been excluded from study-related totals.A copy of the latest release, “Immigration Statistics April to June 2015”, is available from the Library of the House and the Home Office website: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/home-office/series/immigration-statistics-quarterly-releaseSimilarly the Office for National Statistics figures on international migration to the UK (those changing their usual residence for 12 months or more) separately identify those whose main reason for migration is to study. The ONS figures are published as part of the Migration Statistics Quarterly Report, latest edition available at the following website and is attached to this answer: http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/migration1/migration-statistics-quarterly-report/august-2015/stb-msqr-august-2015.html.



Migration Statistics Quarterley report
(PDF Document, 616.98 KB)

Road Traffic Offences

Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they plan to extend their definition of a notifiable crime to include (1) all driving offences, or (2) all driving offences that cause injury.

Lord Bates: There are no plans to extend the definition of a notifiable crime to include all driving offences or all driving offences that cause injury.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Saudi Arabia: Religious Freedom

The Lord Bishop of Bristol: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of Saudi Arabia’s human rights record, and in particular its commitment to freedom of religion or belief.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: Saudi Arabia is a Foreign & Commonwealth Office priority country because of the human rights situation, particularly on the death penalty, access to justice, women’s rights, restrictions on freedom of expression, freedom of assembly and freedom of religion or belief. The British Government strongly supports the right to freedom of religion or belief. Islamic law is strictly enforced in Saudi Arabia and the public practice of any form of religion other than Islam is illegal. The Saudi authorities do accept foreign workers privately practising religions other than Islam.  We believe that the key to increasing freedom in this area is to focus on tolerance. We have worked with Saudi Arabia to identify areas where different faiths could work together and foster trust.

Saudi Arabia: UN Human Rights Council

The Lord Bishop of Bristol: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of the appointment of Saudi Arabia to head a panel at the UN Human Rights Council.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: The appointment of the Saudi Arabian Ambassador to the UN Consultative Group as Chair was an internal decision of the Consultative Group, which is comprised of five Ambassadors, one from each of the five regional groups of the UN. The Saudi Arabian Ambassador is the Asian Group representative in the Consultative Group, to which appointment lasts for one year.

Ali Mohammed al-Nimr

The Lord Bishop of Coventry: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their assessment of the decision by the Supreme Court in Saudi Arabia to uphold the sentencing of Ali Mohammed al-Nimr, who was arrested as a juvenile, to death by crucifixion for seeking democratic reforms in that country.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: The British Government is very concerned about the case of Ali Mohammed Al-Nimr. We have raised this case with the Saudi Arabian authorities at a senior level including by the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond). We will continue to follow this case closely. The UK opposes the death penalty in all circumstances and in every country, especially in cases which do not meet the minimum standards defined by the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. This includes the execution of a minor and the use of the death penalty for a crime which isn’t deemed “the most serious”.

Saudi Arabia: Capital Punishment

The Lord Bishop of Coventry: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to Saudi Arabia regarding the use of beheading and crucifixion as criminal punishments.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: The British Government opposes the death penalty in all circumstances, especially in cases which do not meet the minimum standards defined by the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. We believe it undermines human dignity and there is no evidence that it works as a deterrent.Ministers, our Ambassador in Riyadh, and the Embassy team in Riyadh frequently raise the issue of the death penalty with the Saudi authorities, bilaterally and through the European Union.

Sudan: Cluster Munitions

Baroness Cox: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they plan to make to the government of Sudan following the findings by the Landmine and Cluster Munition Monitor that Sudanese armed forces used air-dropped cluster bombs in Darfur and South Kordofan’s Nuba Mountains in the first half of 2015.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: We have brought this issue to the attention of the Government of Sudan. We have also raised the use of cluster munitions in Darfur through the UN Security Council and will continue to do so. Most recently, the UK-drafted Security Council resolution 2228 called for the Government of Sudan to immediately investigate evidence on cluster munitions presented by the Secretary General. The UK is clear that cluster munitions should in no circumstances be used to target civilians, and urge all States to act in accordance with international humanitarian law.

Turkey: Elections

Lord Hylton: To ask Her Majesty’s Government whether they, the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, or other similar bodies, will be sending official observers to the general election on 1 November in Turkey; and if not, why not.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: The British Government has already deployed 2 Long Term Observers to Turkey to join the 18 other Long Term Observers in the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights Limited Election Observation Mission for the early parliamentary elections in Turkey scheduled for 1 November 2015.Delegations from the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) and from the Parliamentary Assembly of the OSCE will also observe the elections in Turkey on 1 November.

Yemen: Saudi Arabia

Lord Hylton: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they are making to the government of Saudi Arabia about their air attacks on towns and cities in Yemen and the consequent civilian casualties.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: The British Government is in regular contact with the Saudi authorities about the situation in Yemen through our Embassy in Riyadh and our Yemen Office based in Jeddah. The UK has been consistently clear with all sides to the conflict over the importance of compliance with international humanitarian law and international human rights law during this conflict. The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond), spoke to Saudi Foreign Minister Al Jubeir on 29 September in the margins of the UN General Assembly, and underlined the importance the UK attaches to finding a political solution to the current crisis as soon as possible. He also reinforced the necessity of full compliance with international humanitarian law.

Israel: Palestinians

Lord Hylton: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the progress achieved at the meeting of the Middle East Quartet on 10 September.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: On 30 September 2015, the Quartet met in the margins of the UN General Assembly. The Quartet released a statement reaffirming its commitment to the two state solution and noting the urgency of progress towards this objective, in the context of the intensifying threat of terrorism, sectarian extremism and radicalisation in the Middle East. Amongst other things, the Quartet expressed concern at current trends, and stressed the need for significant steps on the ground, consistent with past agreements. The UK, represented by the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond), attended the expanded second part of the meeting. The Foreign Secretary stressed the need for practical actions which would have impact on the ground and expressed concern at settlements, housing demolitions and population clearances.

Israel: West Bank

Baroness Tonge: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they are making to the government of Israel regarding the extension of the Separation Barrier in the Cremisan Valley and its effect on Christian families who previously occupied that land.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: Officials from our Embassy in Tel Aviv have raised the issue of the separation barrier though Cremisan Valley with the Israeli authorities on several occasions, most recently on 1 September. On 9 July, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my hon. Friend the Member for Bournemouth East (Mr Ellwood), issued a press statement which was clear that the UK is deeply concerned by the Israeli Supreme Court’s decision of 6 July to allow the construction of 1.2km of the Separation Barrier through the Cremisan Valley. If built, this section of the Separation Barrier will restrict 58 Palestinian families from accessing their land, which will have a detrimental effect on their livelihoods.

Israel: West Bank

Baroness Tonge: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they are making to the government of Israel following the stop-work order issued by the Israeli Civil Administration in relation to the construction of a football field in the Muslim village of Wadi Foquin in the Bethlehem district of the West Bank.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: While the British Government has not raised this specific case with the Israeli authorities, we frequently lobby the Israeli government on this issue more broadly: we urge them to take steps to enable Palestinian construction, most recently on 17 September with Deputy Head of Israeli Office for the Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT).

Prisoners: British Nationals Abroad

Lord Wallace of Saltaire: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what is their current estimate of (1) how many British citizens are serving prison sentences in other European Union member states, and (2) the distribution of those prisoners across member states.

Baroness Anelay of St Johns: We collect global detainee statistics twice a year. On 2 March 2015 we were aware of 807 British nationals detained (either pre- or post- sentencing) across EU member states. The distribution of British national detainees across Europe was:Austria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Hungary, Luxembourg, Poland, Romania and Slovakiafewer than 5 eachBelgium11Bulgaria10Cyprus7Finland5France104Germany83Greece12Ireland222Italy27Malta11The Netherlands16Portugal31Spain247Sweden5

Ministry of Defence

Israel

Baroness Tonge: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what training has been provided to British military and police personnel by Israel in the past 12 months.

Earl Howe: During the last 12 months, one military officer has attended an International Brigade Logistics Course in Israel at the invitation of the Israeli Defence Forces.